Carton spacers



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United States Patent 3,009,595 CARTON SPACERS Gordon L. Bledsoe, Jr., Box 123, Missouri City, Tex.; Britt Moore, 517 E. Locust, San Antonio, Tex.; and William W. Doak, 4802 Blanton, Houston, Tex.

Filed Mar. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 801,905 3 Claims. (Cl. 217-31) The present invention relates to carton spacers, and more particularly, relates to interlocking carton spacers for dividing cartons into individual compartments or cells for the reception and storage of bottled containers and the like.

Generally carton spacers in use today consist of cardboard partitions which are joined together by slots cut halfway through each partition. These partitions are subject to becoming unjointed, losing their shape, quickly deteriorating when subject to moisture and thus generally requiring replacement after a short period of use. These disadvantages have been further magnified in View of the automatic bottle packaging machinery in use, particularly in the beer and soft drink industries, which require the spacers toI be accurately and securely placed in the cartons. It is to overcome Ithese disadvantages that the present invention is directed.

It is an object of this invention to provide an interlocking carton spacer which may be quickly assembled and will remain securely interlocked.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an interlocking carton spacer which is interlocked along the entire line of intersection of the partitions.

Yet a still further object of the present invention is the provision of an interlocking carton spacer comprising a rubber or plastic material which will be Weather resistant.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved interlocking carton spaced which keeps its shape so that bottles may be placed in the carton by an automatic assembly line machine, has a long life and is simple and inexpensive.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the Ifollowing ydescription of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure, yand taken in `conjunction with the accompanying drawing, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, and Where FIGURE l is a top elevational view illustrating an apparatus yaccording to the present invention in use with a conventional carton,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, partly exploded, illustrating the intersection and interlocking of the apparatus according to the invention,

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective View illustrating a modilication of the interlocking slots of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGURES l, 2, and 3, the reference numeral generally designates the interlocking carton spacers of the present invention which include partitions 12 and 14 which intersect, interlock 'and form a plurality of cells when the carton spacer is positioned in a conventional carton 14 (FIGURE 1).

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3 the partitions or spacers 12 and I14 include a body which is comprised in cross-section of a series of channels or ribs 18 and 20 which are alternately reversed. Preferably, the spacers 12 Aand 14 are made out of a pliable plastic or rubber material which assists the interlocking connection as will be more fully described hereinafter and also proice Vides carton spacers Iwhich are durable and waterproof. As shown in FIGURE 2 each of the transverse and longitudinal partitions 12 and 14, respectively, includes a slot 22 and 23, respectively, which is cut from an outside edge to approximately the center of the crossing partitions. These slits or slots 22 and 23 allow the spacers 12 and 14 to be interconnected and joined perpendicularly to each other as is conventional. Although the straight slots 22 and 23 'do not conform to the cross-section of the partitions 12 and 14 which they enclose, the flexibility of the material used allows a slight give in the coacting surfaces between the partitions 12 and 14 thereby allowing an interlocking action as the ribs or channels L18 and 20 coact with the ribs or channels 20 and 18, respectively of the intersecting side and interlock with each other. After the joint has been assem-bled and interlocked, the spacers 12 and 14 are secured against release in all directions and the perpendicular position of intersection is maintained by the action of the cross-sectional area of channels 18 and 20 acting against the coacting side of the channels 20 and 18, respectively, of the intersecting partition.

While the channels or ribs 18 and 20 may be of the same dimensions and still interlock due to the exibility of the spacers, it may be desirable to make one of the ribs, say rib 18, slightly smaller in cross-sectional width than the alternate ribs or channels 20 thereby insuring that the alternate ribs Or channels will immediately interlock with each other. In either case the manufacturing expense is a minimum as each partition 12 and 14 are identical.

A modilication of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE 3 where the letter a is applied to the parts corresponding to those in FIGURES 1 and 2. The corresponding parts are the same as those in FIGURE 2 except that the slit or slots 24 and 25 -are of a configuration to match the cross-section of the partition 14a or 12a, respectively, which it Will receive and is thus formed of a series of alternately reversed channels. This modication will allow the spacers 12a and 14a to interlock in a tighter joint and thus will mo-re securely hold the partitions in place and insure that the carton spacer 10a will maintain its shape which is of particular importance in the loading and unloading of bottles or other containers from the carton 16.

In use, the transverse spacers l12 and the longitudinal spacers 14 are selected in length and Width to lit the desired size carton and provide the number and size of container cells that are necessary. After the desired shaped slots 22, 23 or 24, 25 are provided, the spacers 12 and 14 are assembled quickly and easily by slightly opening the slots 22 and 23 or 24 and 25, if used, edgew'ise and sliding the spacers together preferably at a srnall angle to each other. When the partitions 12 and 14 are fully meshed together in the slots 23 and 22, respectively, or the slots 25 and 24, if used, the partitions are then turned relatively to each other so as to be perpendicular to each other thereby allowing the ribs 18 and 20 of the intersecting partitions to interlock and secure the partitions in their proper perpendicular position with reference to each other and providing a simple inexpensive, but yet durable and securely interlocked carton spacer.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention yare given yfor the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art which are encompassed 'within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An interlocking receptacle spacer comprising, a first partition, a second partition intersecting the rst partition at right angles, the cross section `of each partition including a series of alternately reversed channel shaped ribs, said ribs being perpendicular to the line of intersection of said partitions, each partition having a slot extending inwardly from the edge of each partition, said slots being shaped as the cross section of the partitions whereby when the iirst and second partitions are joined to each other the ribs on the first partition interlock with the ribs on the second partition at the intersection.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the spacers are comprised of a pliable material.

3. An interlocking receptacle spacer comprising, a first partition, a second partition intersecting the rst partition, each partition being of a pliable material, the cross section of each partition including a series of a1- ternately reversed channel shaped ribs, said ribs being perpendicular to the intersection of the first and second References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,899 Jaeger Aug. 7, 1883 1,030,121 Panther June 18, 1912 1,442,280 Lorentzen Ian. 16, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,020 Denmark July 18, 1921 

